GoFundMe

GoFundMe
Company type	Private
Industry	Crowdfunding
Founded	May 2010; 16 years ago
Founder	Brad Damphousse, Andrew Ballester
Headquarters	Redwood City, California, United States
Key people	Tim Cadogan (CEO)
Products	Crowdfunding platform
Owner	Accel Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures (majority interest acquired 2015)
Website	gofundme.com

GoFundMe is a US-based for-profit crowdfunding service that facilitates fundraising for a wide range of occasions, from personal celebrations to urgent crises. Since its establishment in 2010, it has accumulated more than $30 billion from upwards of 150 million contributors.

History

Established in May 2010 by Brad Damphousse and Andrew Ballester, GoFundMe originated from their previous project, Paygr, and the earlier platform "CreateAFund" launched in 2008. The company operates from its headquarters in Redwood City, California and was developed utilizing PayPal's API.

By March 2017, GoFundMe had become the top crowdfunding platform globally, having raised over $3 billion since its founding and generating $100 million in revenue during 2016. The platform handles donations exceeding $140 million every month. In June 2015, Damphousse and Ballester sold a majority interest to Accel Partners and Technology Crossover Ventures in a transaction that valued the business at around $600 million. Both founders withdrew from daily management roles; however, Ballester continues to serve on the board with an undisclosed equity share.

In January 2017, GoFundMe broadened its market presence by acquiring CrowdRise to strengthen its charitable fundraising capabilities. The company’s current CEO, Tim Cadogan, oversees strategic development and global operations.

Business model

Users initiate fundraising campaigns by outlining their purpose and financial goal while adding images or videos. GoFundMe allows sharing of campaigns through built-in social media integrations such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as email. Donations are processed via debit or credit cards, with contributors able to leave messages. Fundraisers do not incur platform fees; instead, payment processors apply a charge of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction.

Unlike reward-based crowdfunding platforms, GoFundMe primarily supports personal causes including medical expenses and life milestones, although it also accommodates initiatives for artists and inventors. The platform features a specific category for tuition-related fundraising, with some campaigns securing significant sums for educational costs.

GoFundMe utilizes social media channels extensively to boost campaign visibility, encouraging users to actively promote their fundraisers throughout their duration. A study conducted in 2018 showed that sharing a campaign on social networks results in an average donation increase of $13–$15, underscoring the platform’s strong network-driven impact.

In 2015, GoFundMe discontinued support for legal defense fundraising after suspending a campaign associated with a bakery fined for denying service at a same-sex wedding. Nonetheless, certain legal defense fundraisers remain permitted under revised policies introduced in 2017.

In November 2017, the platform removed its 5% service fee for individual campaigns in the US, Canada, and UK markets, transitioning to a voluntary tip-based revenue system while retaining standard credit card processing charges.

In June 2019, GoFundMe ended a $3 million campaign supporting Australian rugby player Israel Folau’s legal appeal following backlash over homophobic remarks on social media. Subsequently, an alternative fundraising page hosted by the Australian Christian Lobby raised $2 million within one day.

In May 2022, GoFundMe expanded internationally by acquiring Classy, a nonprofit donation platform that remains a wholly owned subsidiary, thereby enhancing its offerings and expanding its footprint within charitable fundraising services.

Medical fundraising

GoFundMe brands itself as the foremost platform for online medical fundraising, with approximately one-third of all campaigns dedicated to covering healthcare expenses. This amounts to around 250,000 active campaigns and roughly $650 million raised annually. The high demand highlights deficiencies within the U.S. healthcare system, where GoFundMe serves as a crucial financial intermediary. CEO Rob Solomon clarifies that the platform was never intended to substitute health insurance but has become an essential aid due to systemic healthcare shortcomings. He stresses that GoFundMe is not a healthcare provider and should not be regarded as a remedy for complex medical challenges.

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, his brother Philonise Floyd established a fund to help with funeral costs, counseling services, travel expenses related to court appearances, and support for Floyd’s children. The fund amassed $7 million within just one week, positioning it among the most heavily funded campaigns on GoFundMe and demonstrating the platform’s ability to quickly galvanize support for social justice causes.

The $1K Project

Created by entrepreneurs and investors Alex Iskold and Minda Brusse in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, The $1K Project uses individual GoFundMe pages to directly link donors with families affected by the crisis. Donors pledge at least $1,000 monthly over three months, totaling $3,000 per family. Smaller contributions are combined and matched accordingly. In August 2020, Andrew Yang’s Humanity Forward Foundation committed to matching donations dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million. By mid-October 2020, more than 800 families had received full funding.

Sweet Cakes By Melissa

After GoFundMe halted funding for Sweet Cakes by Melissa in 2015—a bakery fined for refusing service related to a same-sex wedding—the company declared it would no longer support legal defense funds on its platform. Nonetheless, as of November 2017, certain legal defense campaigns continued to be allowed under GoFundMe’s policies.

Help Chelsea Manning Pay Her Court Fines

Launched by Kelly Wright, this fundraiser sought to collect $256,000 to cover court fines imposed on former intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning following her refusal to testify about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Within two days, nearly 7,000 donors contributed amounts ranging from $5 up to $10,000.

MMS Defense Fund

This campaign was purportedly created to aid Louis Daniel Smith’s legal defense against criminal charges related to selling "MMS" (Miracle Mineral Supplement). Smith was convicted of fraud and additional offenses in May 2015. Shortly thereafter, GoFundMe removed the MMS Defense Fund from its site.

Paying it Forward

The fundraiser initiated by Kate McClure, Mark D'Amico, and Johnny Bobbitt Jr. falsely asserted that Bobbitt—a homeless veteran—had given his last $20 to assist McClure when her car ran out of gas. Garnering extensive media coverage and surpassing its goal by 4000%, the campaign later became embroiled in public disputes over fund usage. This led to an investigation resulting in their arrest on charges of theft by deception. All three pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from one year and one day up to five years probation.

An initiative aimed at privately financing a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border was spearheaded by Brian Kolfage through his nonprofit organization We Build the Wall, which sought to construct portions of the barrier funded primarily via GoFundMe donations. In August 2020, Kolfage along with Steve Bannon and others were federally charged with defrauding donors by misappropriating funds for personal expenses. Prosecutors revealed that despite assurances Kolfage would receive no payment, $350,000 was diverted to support his extravagant lifestyle. Additional indictments followed in May 2021 on allegations concerning IRS fraud and falsified tax returns.

Bucks for Bauman

This crowdfunding initiative was created to aid Jeff Bauman following the loss of both legs in the Boston Marathon bombing. It successfully gathered over $360,000 to cover his medical costs, illustrating the power of online fundraising for charitable causes.

Celeste & Sydney Recovery Fund

Victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, Celeste and Sydney Corcoran endured serious injuries—Sydney suffered shrapnel wounds while Celeste underwent amputations on both legs. This fund is dedicated to supporting their ongoing rehabilitation process.

Support for Pulse Nightclub Shooting Victims

Initiated by Equality Florida, this fundraiser was established to assist those affected by the Orlando nightclub shooting. More than 90,000 donors contributed, raising upwards of $1.6 million. GoFundMe’s headquarters contributed $100,000 and waived all fees to enhance the total support.

Las Vegas Victims Fund

Created to provide aid to those impacted by the 2017 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, this fund focuses on recovery assistance for victims.

Stoneman Douglas Victims' Fund

Various fundraisers have been launched to support survivors and commemorate victims of the February 14, 2018, shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. These efforts finance recovery initiatives and family-chosen causes.

Canada Convoy Protest

In January 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implemented a full vaccination requirement for truck drivers entering Canada. In reaction, some drivers organized the Freedom Convoy 2022 heading to Ottawa. A GoFundMe campaign was started to help cover fuel and food expenses for participants. On February 4, 2022, GoFundMe removed the fundraiser due to violations involving "violence and other unlawful activity." The company initially intended to redirect $9 million in donations to established charities, offering refunds only if donors applied within two weeks. Following public backlash, GoFundMe reversed this decision and committed to issuing full refunds within 10 business days.

Anti-Vaccine Fundraisers

In March 2019, GoFundMe prohibited fundraisers linked to anti-vaccine advocates, including Larry Cook of Stop Mandatory Vaccination, citing breaches of terms of service. Despite this, several anti-vaccine campaigns remained active as of May 2019. By December 2021, reports revealed that GoFundMe had facilitated over €300,000 in donations supporting anti-vaccine initiatives and challenges against vaccine certificates. In January 2023, disinformation analyst Logically disclosed that the platform had distributed more than $330,000 to campaigns alleging injuries caused by the COVID-19 vaccine.

Jean Messiha's Fundraising

On June 27, 2023, a French police officer shot and killed 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk during a traffic stop. The officer was arrested on suspicion of "voluntary homicide by a person in authority." Far-right activist Jean Messiha launched a contentious crowdfunding effort for the officer's family, raising €1.6 million. The event sparked widespread protests and riots across France. Meanwhile, Nahel Merzouk’s family filed a complaint against Messiha regarding the fundraiser.

Freeze on Grayzone donations

In August 2023, GoFundMe suspended access to more than $90,000 contributed by approximately 1,100 donors to The Grayzone, citing vague "external concerns." Max Blumenthal, the outlet's founder, implied the suspension was driven by political motives connected to their reporting on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Grayzone has gained notoriety for its pro-Russian editorial line and endorsement of the Syrian regime, which has sparked considerable controversy and criticism.

Fundraising for alleged Brian Thompson shooter

In December 2024, various fundraising efforts intended to support the legal defense of Luigi Mangione—the accused shooter in the death of UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson—were removed from prominent crowdfunding sites. Nevertheless, a fundraiser on GiveSendGo remained operational, amassing over $125,000 by mid-December. This incident drew widespread media scrutiny, underscoring difficulties in regulating crowdfunding campaigns tied to high-profile legal matters.

Abundant Life Christian School shooting fundraiser

April Landphier, a parent affiliated with the sister institution Lighthouse Christian School, launched a fundraiser for those affected by the Abundant Life Christian School shooting. The campaign collected $80 within its initial 24 hours and had reached $260 by December 18.